I was asked to participate in this blog hop by choosing one of Ruby’s blocks and make it as a 12″ block, then share a tutorial making the block in two different color ways, using, of course, the Vintage 30s Ruby’s Treasures fabric collection.

I chose the Road to Oklahoma block to make. For my first color way I went with just one main fabric along with the background fabric.

For those of you who know me, you know I love scrappy quilts and might have as many as seven or eight different fabrics in a block like this. But this block in this size would be perfect for a beginner quilter and many beginner quilters as well as other quilters are not always comfortable making really scrappy quilts. This could be a fun and easy introduction into scrap quilting by making each block out of different fabric from the collection and then enjoy arranging them in to a quilt top.

For my second color way I’m using two main fabrics along with the background fabric. Picking two fabrics for the block that I decided worked nicely together.

Materials needed for the block are:

From you background fabric

four 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ pieces

two 3 1/2″ squares

From your main fabric when making my version one of this block:

Ten 3 1/2″ squares

If making my version two of this block:

Six 3 1/2″ squares from one fabric

and

four 3 1/2″ squares from a second fabric

Step 1. We are sewing connecting corners, so on the wrong side of four main fabric squares, draw diagonal lines from point to point.

Step 2. We are making what I refer to as “Picket Fence” units. We are making mirror image units.

For two of the units; with right sides together, place a marked square at the left edge of a background rectangle. For the remaining two units; place the marked squares at the right edges of a background rectangles.

Stitch one thread width to the outside of the diagonal line (towards the corner you are going to cut away).

A close up showing detail of what I mean by, “stitch one thread width to the outside of the diagonal line, towards the corner you are cutting away”. This also shows my stitching for the waste triangles I like to utilize. I sew this second line of stitching somewhere between 3/8″ – 1/2″ away from the original diagonal seam. This close up is from a unit that has a square added to the left edge of the rectangles.

Step 3. Fold back the fabric towards the triangle and check the alignment of the triangle with the edge of the square.

After the alignment has been checked trim away the waste triangle units and press towards the triangle.

Step 4. Make the center four patch from two background squares and two main fabric squares. Arrange the squares as shown below.

Sew the pieces in the top row together. Sew the pieces in the bottom row together. Press towards the dark. Sew the two rows together and press in any direction you like.

Step 5. Arrange the picket fence units, the four patch, and the remaining squares together following the diagram below.

Sew the units and pieces together into three rows. I pressed the seams in the top and bottom rows towards the 3 1/2″ squares, and the seams in the center portion of the block towards the center four patch.

Sew the rows together to complete the block, press the seams in any direction you like. The block should measure 12 1/2″ at this point and will finish at 12″.

This block is so simple, is fast to make, and has many design possibilities. To me it reads like a Log Cabin block, half light and half dark. A person could play around with this block for hours arranging it in all those great Log Cabin block designs we has seen over the years.

And we can make it from 5″ squares or 2 1/2″ strips!

This would also be a good block to use Charm Packs on; working with two identical Charm Packs so that you have pairs of dark and light squares.

When making the sample block for the video I feel in love with this block all over again. People often ask which of my quilts is my favorite, and I always say, “It’s the one I currently working on!” Now I might have to add to that, also the one I just demoed on YouTube!

With this video I also continue a free pattern offer: When you purchase a book from my website you can receive a free pattern of your choice from any of my published patterns (retail value $10 or less) .

Write the name of the pattern in the “Inscription Area” next to your book selection.

One free pattern per book purchased. Yes if you purchase more than one book you may select a free pattern for each book purchased!

You must write in the pattern name at the time of purchase, if a pattern name is not written in a free pattern will not be shipped after the book is shipped. http://www.patspeth.com/store.html

Sorting out the squares from each charm pack into the pairs of identical squares. I like to just make a stack of these pairs and sort for my lights, mediums, and darks later.

All sorted into what I considered the lights, mediums, and darks.

And now the fun begins! I start auditioning the fabrics to see which fabrics, when sewn together, might make some great hourglass units. I’ll be combining; lights with mediums or darks, and the mediums with the darks. With this collection of fabrics there is enough color contrast within the mediums that I could combine some mediums together and have hourglass units that sparkle!

With this video I also continue a free pattern offer: When you purchase a book from my website you can receive a free pattern of your choice from any of my published patterns (retail value $10 or less) .

Write the name of the pattern in the “Inscription Area” next to your book selection.

One free pattern per book purchased. Yes if you purchase more than one book you may select a free pattern for each book purchased!

You must write in the pattern name at the time of purchase, if a pattern name is not written in a free pattern will not be shipped after the book is shipped. http://www.patspeth.com/store.html

I’ve just uploaded to YouTube a video on the Big Dipper quilt. This quilt is a great project to use those less than beautiful fabrics you might have in your stash. I just grouped together darks with lights or sometimes darks with mediums. Here is the link to the video https://youtu.be/Njw22jvPJ3w

This video has step by step instructions for making the Big Dipper blocks. I demo trimming the hourglass units using a piece of shelf liner with a hole in it to hold the ruler in place.

Gorgeous fabrics, ugly fabrics, old fabrics, and new fabrics – it doesn’t matter – you can use anything you like in this quilt! Two pairs of 5 inch squares will make a block that finishes 7 inches.

With this video I also continue a free pattern offer: When you purchase a book from my website you can receive a free pattern of your choice from any of my published patterns (retail value $10 or less) .

Write the name of the pattern in the “Inscription Area” next to your book selection.

One free pattern per book purchased. Yes if you purchase more than one book you may select a free pattern for each book purchased!

You must write in the pattern name at the time of purchase, if a pattern name is not written in a free pattern will not be shipped after the book is shipped. http://www.patspeth.com/store.html